Point of Boil

Question:

How long should you boil water before drinking it?

Submitted by - J.R., West Palm Beach, FL

Answer:

The general rule is to boil water for one minute at altitudes less than 5,000 feet, and for three minutes at elevations higher than 5,000 feet (the boiling point of water gets lower the higher you go). However, if you plan on using a lot of water, bringing a water filter or chemical treatments might be lighter alternatives to hauling the gas to power your stove.